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The facade and dome of St. Peter's Basilica from St. Peter's Square, with Maderno's fountain in the foreground

Italy · CATHOLIC PILGRIMAGE

Rome Catholic pilgrimage guide

At the heart of the Church.

Spiritual focusPray at the tombs of the Apostles
Suggested timeAllow 4–5 full days as a starting point: the four papal basilicas and one catacomb need at least two days, Vatican City (basilica and museums) a further one or two, and an Assisi day trip or overnight adds another. Add time for a slower pace.
Planning statusSample journeys available

WHY PILGRIMS COME HERE

Come to Rome for the Apostles, the ancient basilicas, and a city where Catholic life is woven into the everyday. Make room for Mass, quiet chapels, and long walks through streets that connect the early Church with the present. Rome's four major papal basilicas are St. Peter's, St. John Lateran, St. Mary Major, and St. Paul Outside the Walls, and they are not within a single walking circuit.

Key facts

  • Four major papal basilicas: St. Peter's (Vatican City), St. John Lateran (the cathedral of Rome), St. Mary Major, and St. Paul Outside the Walls.
  • St. John Lateran to St. Mary Major is about 1.5 km on foot; St. Paul Outside the Walls is about 3 km south of the center (Metro B, Basilica San Paolo).
  • Typical pilgrimage group walking in Rome is 8–12 km per day on cobblestones (sampietrini), with long standing periods.
  • Catacombs open with guided tours of about 30–45 minutes: St. Callixtus, St. Sebastian, and Domitilla on or near the Via Appia Antica, plus Priscilla and St. Agnes; temperature underground is about 15 °C.
  • English-language Masses: St. Patrick's (Via Boncompagni) and San Silvestro in Capite; check each parish schedule.
  • Nearest airport: Rome Fiumicino (FCO), about 30 km from the city center; Assisi is about 175 km by road (about 2.5 hours by coach, about 2 hours by train from Roma Termini).

WHY PILGRIMS COME HERE

Pilgrim information: Mass, confession, hours and dates

Times are local and published by the sanctuary; verified October 4, 2026. Schedules change for feasts and seasons — confirm before you go.

Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls

DetailPublished informationSource
Opening hoursOpen every day 07:00–18:30, free admission (an older 2021 celebrations page still says 07:00–19:00).Source
Cloister and museumCloister open daily 9:00–17:30; €4.00 (reduced €3.00; groups over ten €3.00 each). Ticket covers the 13th-century Cloister, Pinacoteca, Chapel of the Relics, Exhibition Gallery and archaeological area.Source
Mass timesNot published online as text: the basilica posts its celebration timetable only as an image on its celebrations page. Check that page or call +39 06 698 80 800.Source
Confession timesMornings 8:30 a.m.–12:00 p.m.; afternoons 4:00–6:30 p.m. Confessors' languages are not published online.Source
Group Mass bookingGroups up to 600 book through the Sacristy (06 69880812, sacrestia@abbaziasanpaolo.org); over 600 through the Administrative Office (06 69880800). The form asks for the celebration language.Source
Tomb of St. PaulThe 2006 excavation under the high altar opened the place where the sarcophagus rests; since 2007 pilgrims can go down and pray before the partially visible sarcophagus of Paul.Source
Holy DoorThe basilica's own site does not publish Holy Door details. All Jubilee 2025 Holy Doors are closed; St. Peter's was the last, on 6 January 2026.Source
Sacristy and shop hoursSacristy open daily 8:00–12:00 and 16:00–18:30; shop and cafeteria daily 8:00–18:30; administration Mon–Sat 8:00–14:00.Source

Archbasilica of St. John Lateran

DetailPublished informationSource
Opening hoursEntry is free. Basilica open every day 07:00–18:30; Cloister daily 9:00–17:00; museum daily 9:00–17:30; Baptistery daily 9:00–19:00.Source
Weekday Masses7:15, 9:00, 10:00, 11:00 (Massimo Chapel); 8:00, 12:00, 17:30 (Eucharistic Adoration Chapel). Languages not specified.Source
Sunday and holiday Masses7:00 (Apse); 8:00 (Apse or Adoration Chapel); 9:00, 10:30 (Chapter Mass), 12:00, 17:30 (Papal Altar).Source
July–August scheduleWeekdays: 7:15, 9:00, 10:00, 11:00 (Massimo Chapel); 8:00, 17:30 (Adoration Chapel) — no 12:00 Mass. Sundays unchanged.Source
Confession times7:00–12:00 and 15:30–18:30. Confessors' languages are not published online.Source
Eucharistic adorationMon–Fri 8:30–11:45 and 15:30–17:30; afternoon adoration suspended mid-June to mid-September.Source
Scala Santa28 marble steps (wood-covered) opposite the basilica, ascended only on one's knees; the Sancta Sanctorum chapel is on the first floor. Hours are not published on the basilica site; check on site.Source
Mass bookingMasses for the living and dead can be booked at the Sacristy and the Chapel of Eucharistic Adoration. Contacts: basilica 06 69886433; museum 06 69886409.Source

Basilica of St. Mary Major

DetailPublished informationSource
Opening hoursNot published on the basilica's visit or contact pages. Check its celebrations page or call the Sacristy, 06 69886800.Source
Weekday MassesPauline Chapel: 7:00, 8:00, 9:00, 10:00, 11:00, 12:00, 6:00 p.m. Saturday vigil 6:00 p.m. at the Papal Altar.Source
Sunday and feast MassesPauline Chapel 7:00, 8:00, 9:00; Papal Altar 10:00, 12:00, 6:00 p.m. Languages not specified (Italian implied).Source
Daily devotionsChapel of the Crucifix: adoration Mon–Fri 9:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m.; Rosary 11:30 a.m. Mon–Sat; Divine Mercy chaplet 3:00 p.m. Mon–Fri; Vespers and Benediction 4:30 p.m. Mon–Fri.Source
Confession times7:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m. and 3:30–6:45 p.m. Confessors' languages are not published online.Source
Tomb of Pope FrancisBurial niche in the side nave between the Sforza Chapel and the Pauline Chapel (home of the Salus Populi Romani icon). No special visiting hours; accessible during basilica opening.Source
Museum complex hoursPolo Museale: Mon–Sat 8:00 a.m.–6:30 p.m. (last entry 6:00 p.m.); Sunday 12:30–5:00 p.m. Tickets via tickets.museivaticani.va; information visitemuseo.smm@basilica.va.Source
Group Mass rulesConcelebrants must attach a Celebret; each priest brings his own surplice; the group supplies liturgical books in its language if unavailable; filming only with written authorisation.Source
Holy DoorLeft side of the portico; bronze door made in 2000. For the Jubilee of Hope it was opened on 1 January and closed on 25 December 2025.Source

English-language Masses in Rome (St. Patrick's Catholic American Parish)

DetailPublished informationSource
Mass times (English)Mon–Fri 6:00 PM; Saturday Vigil 6:00 PM; Sunday 9:00 AM and 10:30 AM. Via Boncompagni 31 (corner Via Piemonte). Tel. +39 06 8881 8727.Source
ConfessionOffered 30 minutes before the 6:00 p.m. Saturday Vigil Mass (usually 5:15–5:45 p.m.), by appointment.Source
Church open hoursSun 8:30 a.m.–noon; Sat 4:00–7:00 p.m.; Mon/Wed/Thu/Fri 9:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m. and 4:00–6:45 p.m.; Tue 5:30–6:30 p.m. only.Source
Holiday schedule 2026All Saints: Sat 31 Oct 6:00 p.m., Sun 1 Nov 9:00 and 10:30 a.m. Immaculate Conception: Mon 7 Dec 6:00 p.m., Tue 8 Dec 10:00 a.m. Christmas Eve 4:30 and 7:30 p.m.; Christmas Day 9:00 and 10:30 a.m.Source
Santa SusannaSanta Susanna is no longer the American parish; its website now redirects to St. Patrick's.Source

Catacombs of Rome

DetailPublished informationSource
San Callisto hoursMon, Tue, Thu–Sun 09:00–12:00 and 14:00–17:00; closed every Wednesday. Guided tours start every 30 minutes, about 40 minutes; online reservation required.Source
San Callisto closuresClosed 1 January, 13 January–10 February 2027, Easter Sunday (28 March 2027) and 25 December.Source
San Callisto ticketsStandard €10; concession €7 (ages 7–16, school groups, eligible students under 25, clergy with proof); free under 6 and disabled >74% with assistant. Via Appia Antica 110.Source
San Sebastiano09:30–17:00 (last entry 16:45); closed Mondays. Via Appia Antica 136; +39 06 7850350. Annual closure dates on the Commission page are outdated; check catacombe.org.Source
DomitillaMon, Wed–Sun 09:00–12:00 and 14:00–17:00; closed Tuesdays. Via delle Sette Chiese 282; www.catacombedomitilla.it, +39 06 5110342.Source
PriscillaTue–Sun 09:00–12:00 and 14:00–17:00; closed Mondays, Christmas, 1 Jan, Easter, plus annual closures (listed 7–20 Jan and 19 Aug–2 Sep). Via Salaria 430.Source
Sant'AgneseMon–Sat 10:00–13:00 and 15:00–18:00; Sunday 15:00–18:00 by booking for groups over 10. Closed Christmas, Easter, 15 Aug, 1 Jan and mornings of religious holidays. Via Nomentana 349.Source
SS. Marcellino e Pietro1 Apr–31 Oct: Mon–Wed and Fri–Sun 10:00–13:00 and 16:00–19:00; 1 Nov–31 Mar: 10:00–13:00 and 15:00–18:00. Closed Thursdays, 1–15 Aug and 1–15 Sep. Reservation mandatory. Via Casilina 641.Source

Key dates

DateWhat happensSource
January 25Conversion of St. Paul: the Pope presides at Second Vespers at St. Paul Outside the Walls, closing the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity (5:30 p.m. in 2025).Source
Last Sunday of JanuarySt. Mary Major commemorates the Translation of the Salus Populi Romani iconSource
June 29Sts. Peter and Paul, patrons of Rome: Papal Mass at St. Peter's with the blessing of the pallium. St. Paul Outside the Walls does not publish its own 29–30 June programme.Source
August 5Our Lady of the Snows at St. Mary Major: 10:00 Pontifical Mass with the petal "snowfall" at the Gloria; 5:00 p.m. Second Vespers with snowfall at the Magnificat; triduum 2–4 August (2026 programme).Source
November 9Dedication of the Lateran Basilica: Papal Mass at St. John Lateran (9:30 a.m. in 2025, presided by Leo XIV).Source
Holy Thursday and Good FridaySt. Paul Outside the Walls: Mass of the Lord's Supper 5:00 p.m. and Good Friday liturgy 5:00 p.m. (2026).Source

From our visits

Photographs by Andrew McGilly, Founder of Bold Pilgrim.

A street fresco of the Madonna and Child with St. Anne set into a brick wall in Rome, dated 1614
A Roman street shrine (madonnella), 1614 · Photo: Andrew McGilly / Bold Pilgrim
A gold mosaic of the Madonna delle Grazie under a stone pediment reading AVE MARIA GRATIA PLENA, near the Vatican
Madonna delle Grazie, Ave Maria Gratia Plena · Photo: Andrew McGilly / Bold Pilgrim
The Victor Emmanuel II Monument in Rome under a blue sky with two Italian flags
The Vittoriano, Piazza Venezia, Rome · Photo: Andrew McGilly / Bold Pilgrim
The outer arches of the Colosseum in Rome seen from below against a bright sky
The Colosseum · Photo: Andrew McGilly / Bold Pilgrim
An early medieval fresco of Christ with saints in a ruined apse at Santa Maria Antiqua in the Roman Forum
Early medieval fresco at Santa Maria Antiqua in the Forum · Photo: Andrew McGilly / Bold Pilgrim
The church of San Lorenzo in Miranda built inside the Temple of Antoninus and Faustina in the Roman Forum
San Lorenzo in Miranda, a church inside a Roman temple · Photo: Andrew McGilly / Bold Pilgrim
The gilded nave and altar of Santa Maria dell'Orto in Trastevere, Rome
Santa Maria dell'Orto, Trastevere · Photo: Andrew McGilly / Bold Pilgrim

Sacred places to discover

St. John Lateran

The cathedral of Rome and the seat of its bishop, about 1.5 km from St. Mary Major.

St. Paul Outside the Walls

A pilgrimage to the Apostle to the Gentiles, about 3 km south of the city center and reached by Metro B (Basilica San Paolo).

St. Mary Major

A great Roman basilica dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary.

The catacombs

Encounter the memory of the early Christian community with an authorized guide; tours last about 30–45 minutes, require stairs, and each site closes one weekday and for part of the winter.

Make the journey your own

  • Pray at the tombs of the Apostles
  • Follow the story of the early Church along the Via Appia Antica
  • Leave an afternoon for a neighborhood church and a shared meal

When to go

Spring and autumn are the most useful planning windows for walking. Holy Week, Easter, and major Church celebrations bring additional crowds and schedule changes. The Jubilee Year 2025 ended on January 6, 2026, so 2026 and 2027 are ordinary years for Rome crowds. The Papal General Audience is not held when the Pope is away, typically for parts of July.

Walking & practical expectations

City walking, cobblestones, standing in security lines, and occasional stairs. Typical pilgrimage groups cover 8–12 km per day on foot, which exceeds the 5–8 km that operators commonly label "moderate." Ask for a daily route before choosing a trip, and expect shoulders and knees to be covered at every major basilica.

Suggested pacing is planning guidance. Specific access, liturgies, and services require confirmation.

Planning this pilgrimage

Planning overview

Rome rewards a clear focus and enough time. Begin with the Apostles and the four major papal basilicas (St. Peter's, St. John Lateran, St. Mary Major, and St. Paul Outside the Walls), then choose additional churches or collections that serve your interests. Leave room for worship in a city where the most significant moments may not appear on the sightseeing list.

Build around two kinds of time

A guided visit explains the place; prayer allows you to be there without an explanation continuing in your ear. Make room for both. Avoid putting a museum reservation immediately after Mass or treating a church's service as an obstacle to sightseeing. English-language Masses are regularly celebrated at St. Patrick's (Via Boncompagni) and San Silvestro in Capite, and at some times in St. Peter's; the Sunday Angelus in St. Peter's Square at noon needs no ticket.

Group visits geographically

Rome's great basilicas are spread out and are not within one walking circuit. St. John Lateran and St. Mary Major are about 1.5 km apart and pair naturally; St. Paul Outside the Walls is about 3 km south of the center on Metro B (Basilica San Paolo) and pairs with the catacombs of St. Callixtus, St. Sebastian, or Domitilla on the Via Appia Antica. Organize days around realistic transfers, drop-off points, meals, and walking; typical groups cover 8–12 km a day on cobblestones. An itinerary can be overfull even if it lists only three stops. Ask how much standing is involved and where a traveler can rest.

Choose a second layer

After the major basilicas, consider early Christian sites, a particular saint, or a neighborhood church. Catacomb tours last about 30–45 minutes, require stairs, and are about 15 °C underground; each site closes one weekday. Do not feel obliged to add every celebrated monument. Assisi can complement the journey if you have time for another base; it is about 175 km away (2.5 hours by coach, 2 hours by train to the valley station), so it should not be squeezed into a spare afternoon.

Traveling with your priest? Find his pilgrimage.

Sources & further readingVatican: the papal basilicasVatican: Catacombs (Pontifical Commission for Sacred Archaeology)

Official sources cover institutional information. Suggested pacing and itinerary choices are planning guidance. Check current arrangements for your travel dates.

A ROUTE TO IMAGINE

Journey through Rome.

Sample itineraries. Confirmed departures and prices have not been announced.

St. Peter’s Basilica above the surrounding city in natural daylightSAMPLE JOURNEY

Italy · Vatican City

Rome & Assisi

The heart of the Church. The soul of a saint.

+ optional 3-day Amalfi Coast & Sorrento extension

9 days · Pilgrim Pace: ModerateView journey

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO

Your questions, answered.

Rome

How many days should a Catholic spend in Rome?

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What should Catholics see in Rome?

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What are the four major basilicas of Rome?

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How difficult is walking in Rome for seniors?

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When is the best time for a Catholic pilgrimage to Rome?

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Can I combine Rome and Assisi on one Catholic pilgrimage?

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Should I stay near the Vatican or central Rome?

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Can I attend an English-language Mass in Rome?

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Is Rome a good pilgrimage for a family?

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How much does a Catholic pilgrimage to Rome cost?

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Which Catholic pilgrimage sites can I visit after Rome?

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Where are the tombs of the Apostles?

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Where can I go to confession in English in Rome?

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What are the Mass and confession times at St. Paul Outside the Walls?

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What are the Mass and confession times at St. John Lateran?

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What are the Mass and confession times at St. Mary Major?

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Which catacombs in Rome are best to visit: San Callisto, San Sebastiano, Domitilla or Priscilla?

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The Seven Churches of Rome: route, order and a walking plan

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Where is St. Paul buried, and where is his head?

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Rome to Assisi by train: times, which station, and whether a day trip works

EVERY PILGRIMAGE BEGINS WITH A FIRST STEP

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calling you?

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